The name “enCORE” refers to their house’s central core, which is what the foundation that the other components are layered around. Because all of the mechanical systems of the home are condensed into this central location, the other areas are left free for usable space. The areas have been divvied up to maximize functionality, and the 900 square foot home features 2 bedrooms, a kitchen, a bathroom, a deck, an office and even a den. These flexible rooms surround the home’s mechanical core and are set up in a way that maximizes natural light and ventilation.

Ohio State’s enCORE home already has a small footprint, but its powerful solar-panel clad roof also greatly reduces the amount of electricity it needs to suck from the power grid. The array, which actually looks quite aesthetically pleasing on top of the home, consists of 108 angled thin-film First Solar panels and a flat plate collector. With an output of 8 kW, the array is actually on the lower end of the spectrum compared to some of the other homes we’ve written up already, but we do have to give them credit for being manufactured locally in Toledo, Ohio.

LEAVE A COMMENT

NEW USER

CURRENT USERS LOGIN

3 Comments

Diane PhamSeptember 29, 2011 at 2:45 pm

love the simple form of the structure. great job!

Jasmin Malik ChuaSeptember 29, 2011 at 2:44 pm

Swwweeeet!

lazyreaderSeptember 29, 2011 at 2:14 pm

3.7 to 3.1 that seems rather irrelevant. Yes the size of the average home has increased since then still, the rationale is the people that buy them. Which tend to be families with children to raise. And the idea that they’ll abandon them when the children grow up is nonsense, the idea that the baby boomers now retiring or soon to are now empty nesters that will fail to sail they’re suburban homes and move into condos is just ridiculous. Most of that data is conjectured from planning professors from the University of Utah that published these statements. The article claims the United States will have 22 million “surplus” single-family homes by 2025 because so many Americans will prefer to live in multifamily housing after they’ve retired or their kids grow up. A recent survey of baby boomers tossed this theory out the window. Articles written by Time and Atlantic monthly described suburbs are going to turn into the next generation slums. But the survey found that 65 percent of baby boomers plan to stay in their current homes. Of the remaining 35 percent, only 4 percent say they want to move to a downtown condominium and just 3 percent say they want to live in a suburban condo. By comparison, 14 percent say they hope to move to a resort community which is largely single family homes. The suburbs are not dying, but planners are doing their best to kill them. Suburbs aren’t bad but their are some badly designed suburbs so they justify the argument that all suburbs are bad. Even though the size of the average home in America has grown by an additional 1000+ square feet since the 1940′s but not all of it is necessarily outward growth. Another thing is that more suburban homes have been renovated; converting the otherwise grimy basements, attics and cellars to additional spaces such as rec rooms and downstairs bars, playrooms and Man-Caves or additional bedrooms that owners may rent out. Markets easily can adapt to build smaller homes with sufficient space to suit peoples needs. “Build” magazine sponsored along with industry partners to build their annual house of the future. Referred to as the “Home for the new Economy” it’s only 1,740 sq ft in size (not even a basement I don’t think if it had one that’s an additional 800+ square feet). It’s an impressive home aesthetically and in terms of performance and build quality and markets will adapt to construct homes such as that.